F-16Cm, T/N 96-0085
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UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD REPORT F-16CM, T/N 96-0085 55TH FIGHTER SQUADRON 20TH FIGHTER WING SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SOUTH CAROLINA LOCATION: MONCKS CORNER, SOUTH CAROLINA DATE OF ACCIDENT: 7 JULY 2015 BOARD PRESIDENT: MAJOR GENERAL SCOTT A. KINDSVATER Conducted IAW Air Force Instruction 51-503 //Signed// EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION F-16CM, T/N 96-0085 MONCKS CORNER, SOUTH CAROLINA 7 JULY 2015 On 7 July 2015, at approximately 11:00:55 hours local time (L), near Moncks Corner, South Carolina (SC), Mishap Aircraft 1 (MA1), a F-16CM, Tail Number 96-0085, assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, SC, collided with Mishap Aircraft 2 (MA2), a Cessna 150M, registration N3601V, originating from Berkeley County Airport, SC. Neither pilot nor passenger of MA2 survived the collision. Falling debris damaged two private travel trailers near the collision site. Due to separation of the engine exhaust module during impact, MA1 did not have sufficient thrust to maintain altitude, forcing MA1 Pilot (MP1) to eject. MP1 landed with minor injuries. MA1 impacted an uninhabited forest about 9 miles south of the collision. Both MA1 and MA2 were destroyed. The estimated government loss was $29,161,541.52. MA1 was enroute from Myrtle Beach, SC, to Charleston, SC, when MA2 departed Berkeley County Airport, near Charleston, enroute to Myrtle Beach. MA1 was flying at 1600 feet as directed by the Mishap Air Traffic Controller (MC) at Charleston Air Traffic Control. The Cessna pilot, MA2 Pilot (MP2), was not in contact with MC, and was not required to be, but was visible on MC’s radar. At 11:00:16L, MC first advised MP1 of MA2 with “traffic, 12 o’clock, 2 miles, opposite direction, one thousand two hundred indicated, type unknown” (another aircraft is at your 12 o’clock position, 2 miles away, flying towards your aircraft at 1200 feet, aircraft type unknown). MP1 had no previous expectation of a potential traffic conflict. At 11:00:25L, MC instructed MP1 to turn left to 180 degrees (south) if MP1 did not see MA2 but MP1 did not hear the left turn advisory. MP1 looked, but did not see MA2 and asked MC to confirm the distance. At 11:00:33, MC told MP1 “if you don’t have that traffic in sight, turn left heading 180 immediately.” MP1 acknowledged the instruction and had completed 30 degrees of a left turn before MA1 collided with MA2 at 11:00:55L. The Board President (BP) found by a preponderance of the evidence there are two causes of this mishap: (1) MC issued a radar vector directing MP1 to immediately turn left to 180 degrees (south) placing the MA1 and MA2 on a collision course; and (2) MP1 and MP2 were not able to see and avoid each other in time to prevent collision. The BP found, by a preponderance of the evidence, the following factors substantially contributed to the mishap: (1) MC directed MA1 to fly on a course and at an altitude that would increase potential for conflicts by passing in close proximity to the departure routes of an uncontrolled airfield; (2) MP1 and MP2 did not use available systems which may have increased situational awareness; and (3) MC did not provide MP1 with traffic information in time for MP1 to identify the conflict before MC issued the immediate left turn instruction. Under 10 U.S.C. § 2254(d) the opinion of the accident investigator as to the cause of, or the factors contributing to, the accident set forth in the accident investigation report, if any, may not be considered as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding arising from the accident, nor may such information be considered an admission of liability of the United States or by any person referred to in those conclusions or statements. SUMMARY OF FACTS AND STATEMENT OF OPINION F-16CM, T/N 96-0085 7 July 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................... iii SUMMARY OF FACTS ................................................................................................................ 1 1. AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE ...........................................................................................1 a. Authority ........................................................................................................................1 b. Purpose ...........................................................................................................................1 2. ACCIDENT SUMMARY .....................................................................................................1 3. BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................2 a. Air Combat Command ...................................................................................................2 b. Ninth Air Force ..............................................................................................................2 c. 20th Fighter Wing ..........................................................................................................2 d. 55th Fighter Squadron....................................................................................................2 e. F-16 Fighting Falcon......................................................................................................3 4. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS ...................................................................................................3 a. Mission ...........................................................................................................................3 b. Planning .........................................................................................................................4 c. Preflight..........................................................................................................................4 d. Summary of Accident ....................................................................................................4 e. Impact ............................................................................................................................9 f. Egress and Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) ..............................................................10 g. Search and Rescue (SAR) ............................................................................................10 h. Recovery of Remains ...................................................................................................10 5. MAINTENANCE ...............................................................................................................10 a. Forms Documentation ..................................................................................................10 b. Inspections ...................................................................................................................11 c. Maintenance Procedures ..............................................................................................11 d. Maintenance Personnel and Supervision .....................................................................11 e. Fuel, Hydraulic, and Oil Inspection Analyses .............................................................11 f. Unscheduled Maintenance ...........................................................................................12 6. AIRFRAME ........................................................................................................................12 7. WEATHER .........................................................................................................................13 a. Forecast Weather .........................................................................................................13 b. Observed Weather ........................................................................................................14 c. Space Environment ......................................................................................................14 d. Operations ....................................................................................................................14 8. CREW QUALIFICATIONS ...............................................................................................14 a. Mishap Pilot 1, F-16CM ..............................................................................................14 b. Mishap Pilot 2, Cessna .................................................................................................14 c. Mishap Air Traffic Controller ......................................................................................15 9. MEDICAL ..........................................................................................................................15 a. Qualifications ...............................................................................................................15 F-16CM, T/N 96-0085, 7 July 2015 i b. Health ...........................................................................................................................15 c. Pathology .....................................................................................................................15 d. Lifestyle .......................................................................................................................15 e. Crew Rest and Crew Duty Time ..................................................................................16 10. OPERATIONS AND SUPERVISION .............................................................................16 a. Operations